One of the factors that received less attention when Nico Harrison chose to trade Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers last year was his hesitation about eventually committing to a supermax extension.
Harrison reportedly was not fully comfortable with the idea of giving Doncic a five-year, $345 million contract. A similar line of thinking is now surfacing around Giannis Antetokounmpo, as at least one team weighing a potential trade is reportedly cautious about the financial obligation that would follow.
“I know there’s one team I talked to who would be able to put a package together, a pretty compelling package, and they said ‘We’re just not crazy about that contract with our options that we can do. Just don’t know if we want to commit to $275 million to him,’” said Brian Windhorst on The Hoop Collective Podcast.
“And you can’t trade all that stuff if you’re not that committed to him.”
Antetokounmpo would become eligible in October to sign a four-year, $275 million extension if he stays with the Milwaukee Bucks or is traded before the deadline. If a deal were to happen in the offseason instead, he would not be able to finalize that extension until January.
At the moment, Antetokounmpo is sidelined indefinitely due to his second calf strain of the year, which adds another layer of uncertainty for teams evaluating whether to pursue him.
The looming contract decision, combined with his recent injuries and the size of the financial commitment, makes potential trade scenarios more complex for franchises considering acquiring the two-time MVP, who turned 31 in December.
The situation echoes Harrison’s earlier assessment of Doncic prior to that blockbuster trade. Organizations interested in Antetokounmpo must balance the enormous salary commitment against long-term roster flexibility and their overall championship plans.
Potential Suitor Wary Of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Next Four-Year, $275M Contract https://t.co/yeJCoUSdUw
— RealGM (@RealGM) January 30, 2026
